Oreosyce africana Hook. f.

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Ridge above Cavalo, Sanjunjira, Mt Gorongosa

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Synonyms:	Cucumis cecilii N.E. Br. Cucumis subsericeus Hook. f. Oreosyce triangularis Cogn.
Common names:
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Prostrate creeper or climber with simple tendrils. Stems, petioles and tendrils with rough, backwardly pointed, bristly hairs. Leaves up to 10 × 9.5 cm, triangular, to broadly ovate in outline, unlobed or fairly shallowly 3(5) lobed, more or less densely covered in bristly hairs on both surfaces, especially on the veins; lobes usually triangular; margins with small sinuate teeth; petiole 2.5-11.5 cm long. Flowers unisexual on the same plant, up to 1-2 cm in diameter, pale yellow. Male flowers in 3-6-flowered axillary clusters. Female flowers solitary on pedicels 3-10 mm long; ovary densely bristly hairy. Fruit ovoid to ellipsoid, 1.5-2.7 cm long, tuberculate, usually with a short beak, green or yellow.
Notes:	Although not cited for MS in FZ Vol. 4 (1978), both the specimens in the photographs (Ballings & Wursten 715, BR) and the only specimen from Mozambique at SRGH (Schelpe 417) are from Mt Gorongosa. This adds MS as a new division.
Derivation of specific name:	africana: African
Habitat:	Along margins of forest.
Altitude range:	800 - 2100 m
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution:	Angola, DRC, Bioko, Cameroon, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mpumalanga, South Africa. Also in Madagascar.
Mozambique distribution:	N,Z,MS
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Content last updated:	Thursday 26 April 2012
Literature:	Burrows, J.E. & Willis, C.K. (eds) (2005). Plants of the Nyika Plateau Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 31 SABONET, Pretoria Page 135. (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mugarisanwa, N.H. (2003). Plants of the Matobo District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 27. Da Silva, M.C., Izidine, S. & Amude, A.B. (2004). A preliminary checklist of the vascular plants of Mozambique. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 30 Sabonet, Pretoria Page 51. Jeffrey, C. (1978). Cucurbitaceae Flora Zambesiaca 4 Pages 471 - 472. (Includes a picture). Jeffrey, C. & Fernandes, R.B. (1986). 80. Cucurbitaceae Flora de Moçambique Junta de Investigaçoes de Ultramar, Centro de Botanica Page 82. Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 38. Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 45. Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 53.

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Flora of Botswana: Oreosyce africana
Flora of Malawi: Oreosyce africana
Flora of Zambia: Oreosyce africana
Flora of Zimbabwe: Oreosyce africana

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African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Oreosyce africana
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Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Oreosyce africana
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Wikipedia: Oreosyce africana